Org Mode + The Cycle + DayTimer + RT

In the spirit of Chris Siebenmann, and to kick off the new year, here's a post that's partly documentation for myself and partly an attempt to ensure I do it right: how I manage my tasks using Org Mode, The Cycle, my Daytimer and Request Tracker.

• Org Mode is awesome, even more awesome than the window manager. I love Emacs and I love Org Mode's flexibility.

• Tom Limoncelli's "Time Management for System Administrators." Really, I shouldn't have to tell you this.

• DayTimer: because I love paper and pen. It's instant boot time, and it's maybe $75 to replace (and durable) instead of $500 (and delicate). And there is something so satisfying about crossing off an item on a list; C-c C-c just isn't as fun.

• RT: Email, baby. Problem? Send an email. There's even rt-liberation for integration with Emacs (and probably Org Mode, though I haven't done that yet).

So:

• Problems that crop up, I email to RT -- especially if I'm not going to deal with them right away. This is perfect for when you're tackling one problem and you notice something else non-critical. Thus, RT is often a global todo list for me.

• If I take a ticket in RT (I'm a shop of one), that means I'm planning to work on it in the next week or so.

• Planning for projects, or keeping track of time spent on various tasks or for various departments, is kept in Org Mode. I also use it for things like end-of-term maintenance lists. (I work at a university.) It's plain text, I check it into SVN nightly, and Emacs is The One True Editor.

• My DayTimer is where I write down what I'm going to do today, or that appointment I've got in two weeks at 3pm. I carry it everywhere, so I can always check before making a commitment. (That bit sampled pretty much directly from TL.)

• Every Monday (or so; sometimes I get delayed) I look through things to see what has to be done:

  • Org mode for projects or next-step sorta things
  • RT for tickets that are active
  • DayTimer for upcoming events

• I plan out my week. "A" items need to be done today; "B" items should be done by the end of the week; "C" items are done if I have time.

• Once every couple of months, I go through RT and look at the list of tickets. Sometimes things have been done (or have become irrelevant) and can be closed; sometimes they've become more important and need to be worked.

• I try to plan out what I want to get done in the term ahead at the beginning of the term, or better yet just before the term starts; often there are new people starting with a new term, and it's always a bit hectic.